Grain abrading and cleaning apparatus



May 16, 1950 E. EGEDAL. 2,507,507

GRAIN ABRADING AND CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 15, 1944 2Sheets-#Sheet 2 4Z /NvEN-roR- llmmmmmn 45 LAWRENCEEEGEDAL TORNEYPatented May 16, 1950 GRAIN ABRADING AND CLEANING APPARATUS Lawrence E.Egedal, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application December 15, 1944, Serial No. 568,271

(Cl. 14S- 261) 7 Claims. l

The present invention relates to apparatus for milling grain and othermaterials, and more particularly to grain abrading and cleaningapparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved grain millingapparatus for efliciently scouring and cleaning grain.

Another object is to provide a grain milling apparatus including simplebut effective anning and screening means cooperating with abrading meansfor the grain.

A further object is to provide a grain milling apparatus which is ofrelatively inexpensive and durable construction.

The invention further consists in the several features hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating certain embodiments of theinvention,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a grain processing machine constructed inaccordance with the invention; l

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional plan view taken generally on the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a, sectional elevation taken generally on the line 3--3 ofFig. l and showing the machine arranged for grain scouring and cleaning;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the same plane as Fig. 3and showing abrading means of the machine on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the abrading rotor and housing;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the abrading stator;

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of a screening member and its mounting,parts of the latter being shown in section; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional elevation of a modiiied form of abradingstator.

In these drawings, 20 designates a legged frame or support here shown tolbe formed of metal tubing and mounted on casters 2l. The frame includesupper and lower pairs of parallel horizontal bars 22 and 23, the upperbars 22 being connected by a pair of parallel cross bars 24, and thelower bars 23 being connected by a pair of parallel cross bars 25.

A housing 26, preferably in the form of an inverted cup, includes ahorizontal top wall 21 and a downwardly projecting cylindrical side wallor skirt 28, the latter preferably having a bead 29 at its lower edgeand a bead 30 around its upper portion. The housing top wall 21 extendsbelow the cross bars 24 and is rigidly secured thereto by screws 3|. Atits upper side the housing top wall 21 is provided with a centralembossment 32 extending upwardly between the cross -bars 24 and having adownwardly converging conical seat 33 on which is rigidly mounted theconically formed bottom wall 34 of a hopper member 35. The hopper memberis adapted to hold grain or other granular material.

.An electric motor 36 extends centrally within the hopper and has aVertical shaft 31, the projecting lower end of which extends downwardlythrough a central aperture 38 in the housing embossment 32. The motorframe is provided with supporting legs 39 which are rigidly secured tothe housing by screws 40, the bottom wall 34 of the hopper being clampedbetween the housing and the motor-supporting legs.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 7, constituting agrain scourer and cleaner, a mill stator, designated as a whole by thenumeral 4I, is detachably and adjustably secured to the underside of thehousing top wall 21. The stator comprises a disk-like abrasive member orstone 42 having a downwardly projecting peripheral ange 43 and a iiatdisk-shaped web 44, the latter being firmly clamped between a disk-likemetal top member 45 and a metal bottom member 46 of skeleton or spiderform, these members being drawn together by screws 41. If desired, theabrasive member may also be cemented to one or both of the clampingmembers. The bottom member 46 has a central cylindrical shell 48, theupper edge of which lits in a shallow circular recess 49 formed in thelower face of the housing top wall 21 to center the stator. The statoris secured to the housing top wall 21 by screws 50 which are seated inthe stator plate member 45 and pass through vertically adjustablebushings 5I screwed through the housing wall, the lower ends of thebushings bearing on the plate member 45, and the screws car ryingrespective lock nuts 52 bearing on the upper ends of the bushings. Theclamping member 46 has at its underside a series of concentricallyarranged ribs 53 forming annular grain channels 54 between them. Ifdesired, these grain channels may have abrasive surfaces. Each rib has agap 55 to permit the outward passage of grain. Preferably, the severalgaps are'arranged approximately in line at one side of the clampingmember, as shown in Fig. 6. The peripheral ange -43 of the abrasivemember 42 is continuous and presents a relatively wide fiat grindingland 56 which is operative when the machine is used as a flour mill, ashereinafter described. The stator is concentrically disposed in thehousing 26 and has its periphery spaced inwardly from the cylindricalskirt 2B of the housing.

A rotatable centrally apertured abrasive member or stone 51, preferablyin the form of a disk, lies centrally below the ribbed stator and issufficiently close to the lower edges of the ribs 53 to prevent thepassage of grain under the ribs. The abrasive member 51 is carried on ametal disk 58 to which it is rigidly secured, as by cementing. The metaldisk is here shown to have a peripheral flange 59 for radially confiningthe abrasive member. The metal disk 53 has a central bore 80 which iltson the reduced shoulderforming screw-threaded lower end portion 6| ofthe motor shaft 31. A disk nut 62 on the motor shaft clamps the disk 58in place and is secured to the disk as by screws 63. In addition to thedisk nut 32, a lock nut 34 may be screwed onto the motor shaft.

The rotary abrasive disk and its metal supporting disk are provided witha plurality of spaced openings 65 which register with the outermostgrain channel I to permit the scoured grain kernels and debris to passdownwardly out of the scouring rotor. Some of the ner debris will alsofind its way outwardly through the peripheral slit or gap 66 formedbetween the stator and the rotor. 'I'he lower surface of the rotor disk58 has a vaned fan-forming disk 61 detachably secured thereto as byscrews 68. The lower surface of the disk nut 62 has a smaller fan 69detachably secured thereto by screws 1B.

Removably resting on the lower bars 23 and 25 of the frame is an annularreceptacle 1| of cylindrical shape having inner and outer cylindricalwalls 12 and 13, respectively, the inner wall forming a central verticaltube open at both ends, and the upper edge of the outer wall having anoutturned bead 14. The upper portion of the tubeforming inner wall hasone or more vertical slots 15 and is contractible by eared bands 16secured to this wall and carrying clamping screws 11. The receptacle 1Iis suitably centered below the housing 26, as by means of shortpositioning pegs 18 which project upwardly from the frame bars 23.

A sieve or screen member of wire cloth or perforated sheet metalcomprises a cylindrical upper portion 19 and a downwardly convergingconical lower portion 80. The sieve is rigidly carried on a metal tube8| which slidably ilts in the contractible receptacle tube 12 and isclamped to the latter tube at an adjustable elevation. The sieve is ofrather coarse mesh which, however, is suilciently small to preventpassage therethrough of cleaned grain kernels. The cylindrical portion19 of the sieve extends concentrically in the housing into the spacebetween the housing skirt 28 and the periphery of the mill stator 4l.The upper edge of the cylindrical portion 19 is spaced a short distancefrom the underside of the housing top wall, and is here shown to carryperipherally spaced stop projections 82 to gauge this distance, thuspresenting a series of slots along the upper edge of the sieve.

An annular filter-forming cover or casing 83 of porous cloth, such asflannel, and preferably of downwardly converging conical or conoidalshape, extends loosely between the housing 26 and the outer wall-of thereceptacle 1| and has elastic edge portions detachably'secured to theperipheral bead 30 of the housing and the peripheral bead 14 of thereceptacle. The cover is thus supported at its upper and lower edges.The porous cloth cover permits the passage of air therethrough, butprevents escape of fine dust or flour.

The vertical tube 12 of the receptacle forms a passage for an upwardcurrent of air, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3, and also provides aconduit for the descent therethrough of cleaned grain kernels which arecaught in a container 84 of any convenient size set on the floor belowthe tube.

In setting up the machine for use as a grain scourer, the sieve 19, 80is lowered to the broken line position of Fig. 3 before the receptacle1i is placed in' position on the frame bars 23 and 25, thus permittingthe upper edge of the sieve to clear the lower edge ofthe housing skirt28. The

deposited in the receptacle 1 I.

cover 83 is placed around the receptacle before the sieve is raised andfastened in its operative position, and the cover is then applied to thesupporting bead 30 of the housing. The stop projections 82 on the upperedge of the sieve determine the normal gap between this edge and thelower face of the housing top wall 21, but this gap can be adjusted to agreater distance by vertically adjusting the metal tube 8| which carriesthe sieve.

In the operation of the machine as a scourer and cleaner, a quantity ofwheat or other granular material is placed in the hopper 35, and themotor 36 is set in rotation, driving the rotary abrasive member 51 at ahigh speed,v for example a peripheral speed of 10,000 feet per minute.The grain descends from the hopper through the aperture 38 and passesthrough the central chamber of the ribbed stator onto the rotaryabrasive disk 51. The grain kernels are abraded by the rotary disk 51,removing fuzz and dirt from the kernels and Aalso removing the woodyouter portions of the kernels. The high-speed rotary disk 51 has a lightcontact with the kernels, and removes the dust-laden outer coating ofthe kernels without danger of cracking the kernels. The ribs 53 of thestator retard the outward passage of the kernels and also have someabrading action. The grain kernels travel around the channels 5l of thestator under urge of the rotating disk and pass from each channel to thenext outer channel through the gap 55 in the rib between the channels,as indicated by arrows in Fig. 6. Some of the grain may make more thanone circuit in each channel before passing to the next channel. Anydesired distribution of the grain within the channels can be obtained byselecting the -width of the channels and the width and location of therib gaps 55. The grain kernels finally reach the outermost channel andare discharged downwardly through the openings in the rotor. Thedischarged kernels are swept around the sieve 19, 30 by air currents tocause a further abrading action. The air currents are produced mainly bythe rotating fans 61 and 69 which draw air upwardly through the centraltube 12 of the receptacle and cause movement of the air in the directionindicated by arrows in addition to a swirling or rotary action about theVertical axis of the sieve. The rotation of the rotor may also .drawsome air down through the mass of grain in the hopper and discharge itfrom the peripheral region of the rotor. In some instances, there may bean inward and upward passage of air through the lower portion of thesieve 80, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3. The fuzz, dirt, and otherilne removed material discharged from the rotor pass outwardly throughvthe sieve meshes and fall into the receptacle 1I, while the cleanedgrain kernels fall through the tube 12 and into the container 34. Thepassage of the kernels along the sieve walls aids in` keeping the meshesopen. Any sticks, straws, joints, and other light foreign objects in thegrain which do not or can not pass through the sieve meshes will beswept upwardly within the sieve and blown out over the top edge of thesieve so that they will be By changing the size or number of the fanblades, any desired degree of buoyant separation can be obtained.

A slight air pressure existing within the illter 16 cover 83 causes thecover to belly out, as shown in Fig. 8, and air currents serve to causea nuttering or agitation oi the cover, preventing acing, and theclamping member 46' is of smaller diameter than the clamping member 46of Fig. 4. The stator of Fig. 8 is otherwise the same as that of Fig. 4and is used in the same manner, the several ribs having gaps for theoutward passage of grain. i

The bottom edge oi' the skirt 28 of the housing has an inturned flangeor rib 93 which serves to deflect particles of descending materialinwardly. The cylindrical sieve portion 19 has an annular baille 94 nearits lower end to direct light coarse particles inwardly to the zone ofactionv of the disintegrating fans.

While the machine of the invention is more particularly intended for usein the processing oi grain, it is also capable of use in the treatmentof other materials.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a housing having atop wall and a downwardly projecting annular, skirt, grain-scouringmeans including 'an abrasive rotor 'within said skirt and rotatable on agenerally vertical axis, therebeing a vgrain discharge outlet from saidrotor, a sieve extending around said rotor and having its upper edgeadjacent to said top wall,

there being a slot-like passage between'said sieve` upper edge and saidtop wall to admit light floreign objects discharged with the. scouredgrain, said passage being larger than the sieve meshes,

.f and a grain conduit at the lower end of said sieve f for downwardpassageof scoured grain. Y

projecting downwardly from the skirt below said rib, means for;introducing material to be siited into the region within said skirt, andair-impel- `ling means for producing air currents within said sieve,said air-impelling means having a bottom suction region and a peripheraldischarge region, and said rib being below the level of the discharge ofthe air-impelling means for deilecting particles of material passingldownwardly within said skirt to the zone of action of saidair-impelling means.

5. A device of the character described, comprising grain-scouring meansincluding an abrasive rotor rotatable on a generally vertical axis andfrom which grain is outwardly discharged, airimpelling means carried bysaid rotor and having a bottom suction region, and a tubular sieveextending around said rotor in outwardly spaced relation thereto, saidsieve having an annular baffle below the level of the abrasive rotor andthe discharge of the air-impelling means to deect coarse light particlesinwardly to the zone of action of said air-impelling means'.

6. A device of the character described, comprising grain abrading meansincluding an abraabrading means and retractable downwardly therefrom topermit lateral shifting of said receptacle with said sieve, and meansfor supporting and centering said receptacle with respect to saidabrading means.

LAWRENCE E. EGEDAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the y* fileo! this patent:

3. A device ofthe character described, comprising a housing -having anannular imperforate skirt, the lowerportion of which has an inwardlyUNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 4,512 Howlet et al. May 9, 1846 A9,659 Fulton Apr. '12, 1853 63,360 Bowman Apr. 2, 1867 120,012 TrimmerOct. 17, 1871 199,070 Jaquett Jan. 8, 1878 292,044 Phelps Jan. 15, 1884294,225 Griniths Feb. 26, 1884 505,702 -Dixon Sept. 26, 1893 548,016Spear Oct. 15, 1895 665,935 Rudolph Jan. 15, 1901 v 944,670 Emerick -L.Dec. 28, 1909 978,034 Kinsey Dec. 6, 1910 1,345,273 Stapp June 29, 19201,750,573 Crowe Mar. 11, 1930 1,807,891 Bottom June 2, 1981 2,252,701Copeman Aug. 19, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 'Date' 19,644 80,1888 n

